“Sunglo”. The name evokes images of golden rays landing on pastures and on nearby cliff faces. And that is what happens at “Sunglo”, a working & rural lifestyle property at Hillgrove in norther NSW.
Production & Environment
Capable of running about 120 cows and their calves, the property benefits from straddling a ridge 1,000 metres above sea level in the Eastern Fall country 53 kilometres by road south-east of Armidale. The country is undulating trapsoil dominated by a plateau that fronts national park on two sides.
The gorges on either side of “Sunglo” maintain a warmer airflow in winter than that of just a few kilometres away. As such the usual hoary frosts of the Northern Tablelands are avoided for the most part. This helps extend the pasture growing season by perhaps a month or more.
Pastures are mostly native kangaroo grass, microlena, and some introduced clovers. 70ha was treated with a trial of 2 t/ha lime, 500 kg/ha single super and molybdenum, and 2 t/ha chook manure. The owners say the response was excellent. There are 24 dams plus a wet weather gully or two giving water security to the property.
Native tree species include the revered Hillgrove Gums, Apple box, Stringybark, Blackbutt, Sydney Blue Gum, wattles and others.
Infrastructure
Fencing on “Sunglo” is simple but effective, with hot wires being utilised successfully to subdivide larger paddocks. These paddcks are secured by fences of combination barb, plain and electric.
There is one double bay steel and timber shed for storage and a shack that could be used to camp in (this building is not certified by council as a permanent dwelling). There is am older, but serviceable set of timber cattle yards near the entrance of the property. Access to these yards and the shed & shack is via a graveled track.
Lifestyle
As mentioned, there is no permanent housing on “Sunglo”. This gives rise to numerous options for building a dwelling in one of the many locations that overlook the adjacent gorges, or to build here the current shack is (a very pleasant location in it’s own right). As with all rural properties, there is plenty to do on “Sunglo”. Further work on pastures would see production increase, and there are spots of regrowth to be tackled, but nothing beyond redemption.
Access to the gorges (the Macleay to the south, the Chandler to the north) provides endless wilderness adventures for those so inclined. The property would make a great location for a nature retreat.
Suitable as a starter’s property or to bolster an existing enterprise, this property still has the potential to be New England’s ultimate rural lifestyle property.
Inspections
Inspections of “Sunglo” are strictly by appointment. Please contact Graham MacDougall of MacDougall Rural Property on 0412 220 302 to arrange.
“Sunglo” is on the market at $790,000.
